Effect of Laundry Parameters on Micro Fiber Loss during Washing and Its Correlation with Carbon Footprint

ABSTRACT

Nowadays, with the fast growing fashion trend, a surge in fashion demand is there. In future, this demand may expect to increase further in multifold. A particular apparel design is not being used for longer period due to the fast changing fashion and this will cause the shedding of micro fibers. Most of the clothes are blends of polyester (synthetic fibers) and cotton (natural fibers) (P/C: 70:30) and when wash these clothes, the shed fibers coming out and pollute the environment. These shed fibers poses a major threat to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem and also human health. The experimental study was performed on washing machine, considering three parameters – time (duration of washing), detergent concentration of washing liquor and mechanical stress level, to study the shed fibers. The study shows that the major contributing parameter causing more fiber loss was found to be 1% (lower) detergent concentration, this was perhaps due to decrease in inter-fiber friction. On the other hand, high micro fiber loss was achieved at higher mechanical stress and processing time. Also, the increased mechanical stress, increases the friction between the fabric and drum. Thus increases the electricity consumption. The combined impact of time and detergent concentration, increase the fiber loss. With higher processing time and lower detergent concentration, increases the micro fiber loss. The increased processing time and mechanical stress increases the micro fiber shedding and electricity consumption.

摘要

如今, 随着时尚潮流的快速发展, 时尚需求激增. 未来, 这一需求可能会进一步增加数倍. 由于快速变化的时尚, 特定的服装设计不会被长期使用, 这将导致微纤维脱落. 大多数衣服是涤纶 (合成纤维) 和棉 (天然纤维) 的混合物 (P/C:70:30), 洗这些衣服时, 脱落的纤维会出来, 污染环境. 这些脱落的纤维对水生和陆地生态系统以及人类健康构成重大威胁. 在洗衣机上进行实验研究, 考虑三个参数——洗涤时间 (洗涤持续时间), 洗涤液的洗涤剂浓度和机械应力水平, 以研究脱落纤维. 研究表明, 导致纤维损失更多的主要因素是1% (较低) 的洗涤剂浓度, 这可能是由于纤维间摩擦的减少. 另一方面, 在较高的机械应力和加工时间下, 可获得较高的微纤维损耗. 此外, 机械应力的增加, 增加了织物和滚筒之间的摩擦. 从而增加了电力消耗. 时间和洗涤剂浓度的综合影响会增加纤维损失. 随着加工时间的延长和洗涤剂浓度的降低, 微细纤维的损耗增加. 加工时间和机械应力的增加增加了微纤维脱落和电耗.

KEYWORDS:

• Microfibres
• shedding
• carbon emission
• electrical consumption
• fiber loss

关键词:

• 微纤维
• 脱落
• 碳排放
• 耗电量
• 纤维损耗

Highlights

1. Analyzed the laundry parameters on micro fibre shedding

2. Analyzed the electrical consumption of the process.

3. High micro fibre loss was achieved at higher mechanical stress and processing time.

4. The increased mechanical stress, increases the friction between the fabric and drum and increases the electricity consumption.

5. The combined impact of time and detergent concentration, increase the fibre loss.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.